In The News

The Controversial Search for the God Particle

September 10, 2008
Throughout history, science has inspired awe in some and fear from others; skeptics scoffed at Galileo Galilei for pointing out that the earth rotates the sun, Charles Darwin for offering a theory on evolution, and NASA for putting men on the moon. A large hadron collider, switched on in Geneva today, entailing the work of thousands of scientists from 80 countries, draws similar fear and even...

High-Tech Ties Bridge Mideast Divide

Robert W. Gee September 8, 2008
With any lull in the violence, Palestinian and Israeli representatives reach out to each other for business and trade opportunities. One example is Israeli high-tech executive, Jonathan Levy, president and general manager of Nuvoton, who did not hesitate in outsourcing some software engineering work to seven recent graduates from West Bank universities. More than 2000 Palestinian students...

On the Campaign Trail

June 24, 2008
Whatever the result of November’s election, most observers expect the next US president to be more science-friendly than George W. Bush. Both Barack Obama and John McCain are expected to repeal Bush’s curbs on stem-cell research and step up the fight against climate change. Of course, the two men differ on some details of science-related issues. The most important test of the candidates is not a...

Oil Majors Say US Restrictions Delay Iran Projects

Benoît Faucon June 12, 2008
Despite surging oil prices, companies investing in Iranian energy projects confront long delays. The US has long imposed sanctions on Iran, and as a result, it becomes more difficult to use American technology or equipment, hindering many foreign ventures in Iran. US companies once exploited legal loopholes to continue operations in Iran, but the September 11th attacks ended that strategy. The...

Global Warming Blamed for Ice Shelf Collapse

March 28, 2008
Satellite images show a large ice shelf breaking off from the Antarctica Peninsula and offer more evidence of climate change. Scientists correctly predicted such breakages, but were off about the rapid speed. Researchers have suggested that melting polar ice could lead to rising sea levels, which could increase flooding for coastal communities during storms. The Antarctica Peninsula has been...

Satellite Spotters Glimpse Secrets, and Tell Them

John Schwartz February 12, 2008
Throughout the world, knowledge about satellite activities and orbits is remarkably limited. Yet, as John E. Pike of the space and military watchdog group GlobalSecurity.org notes, the internet has spawned an “important demystification” as to information about satellites. Using websites to upload photos and find other hobbyists has helped a small contingent of “spotters” worldwide to connect,...

Developing Countries Worse Off Than Once Thought – Part I

Branko Milanovic February 11, 2008
Reducing poverty has long been a goal for leaders, both national and international. Undertaking the task requires an understanding of the nature of poverty and its specific locations as well as programs that target economic and cultural causes, suggests this two-part series. The first article in the series, by economist Branko Milanovic, explains how detailed reports on prices throughout the...